The Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Hon. Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo, has described the newly introduced daily health insurance scheme for commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders and passengers as a life-saving initiative designed to protect the most vulnerable in the informal sector.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Abeokuta South counterpart, Hon. Afeez Balogun, at the NUJ Secretariat in Abeokuta, Oyegbola-Sodipo explained that the programme aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s directive to strengthen grassroots welfare, while addressing the safety challenges facing operators and commuters.
He revealed that the informal health insurance programme — already in existence for over two years — has provided over 2,000 elderly and indigent residents in Abeokuta North and South with a full year of free medical cover. The latest phase, he said, targets Okada riders, noting that 45% of road crashes in Ogun State involve motorcycles.
“To address this, we saw health insurance as an avenue to not only provide safety nets for riders and passengers but also to establish a profiling system to identify who is operating in the sector,” Oyegbola-Sodipo stated. “Even if a rider has contributed for just one day before an accident, they will enjoy full one-year coverage.”
The LG boss dismissed criticisms from the leadership of the Riders and Owners of Motorcycles Organisation (ROMO), who had earlier condemned the suspension of Okada operations in Abeokuta North following protests over the introduction of a new revenue ticket. ROMO described the decision as “ill-advised and counterproductive.”
Responding, Oyegbola-Sodipo argued that the initiative is in the best interest of riders and passengers, and far from exploitative. He stressed that the scheme would soon be extended to market women, traders, and artisans, making it a key dividend of democracy at the grassroots.
“Abeokuta is a metropolis, and in modern societies, insurance is a critical safety net. Even the President recently directed that insurance cover should be provided for the poor. We are standing with Okada riders, passengers, and other informal workers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abeokuta South Local Government will commence onboarding Okada riders onto its own health insurance programme tomorrow, August 13, 2025, expanding the initiative beyond Abeokuta North.
